MAK-NEWS 16/11/95 (M.I.C.)

From: "M.I.C." <mic@ITL.MK>

Macedonian Information Centre Directory

CONTENTS

SKOPJE, NOVEMBER 16, 1995 (MIC)

[01] CRVENKOVSKI: "IMPORTANT POLITICAL AND SECURITY ACT"

Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski signed the document for the acceptance of the Republic of Macedonia to the NATO "Partnership for peace" programme yesterday. This made Macedonia the 27th member of this program, and following Slovenia, the second country from the former Yugoslavia to find itself under the NATO umbrella.

Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski placed his signature on a document which contained the name of the Republic of Macedonia. On behalf of the NATO pact, the Italian ambassador and acting Secretary-General of the Alliance, Balanzino, signed a document containing the reference FYROM.

Due to the familiar Greek veto, this compromise, signing two documents, was an only acceptable solution.

According to the ambassador Balanzino, by entering "Partnership for peace," Macedonia has finally acquired the position it deserves, which, after some time, will lead to the full integration of the state into NATO. Considering this is a practical initiative, it will allow the Macedonian partner of the Alliance to develop close military ties with it, through some joint planning and joint military exercises.

At the start of his address, Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski reiterated Macedonia's strategic orientation to enter the collective security systems in Europe, as well as the fact that Macedonia was among the first countries to welcome the initiative of the heads of the member-states of NATO, to establish the "Partnership for peace" programme.

It is perfectly clear to Macedonia and its Government that the support of the activities of this peace initiative are the only way to "increasing the security and stability in Europe, without creating new divisions." The changes that have taken place in Europe are more proof that "no security policy can rely on the isolated systems and to the damage of other states, but should be based on the collective security systems," Prime Minister Crvenkovski concluded.

Following his return from Brussels, accompanies by Defence Minister Blagoya Handziski and Foreign Minister Stevo Crvenkovski, the Prime Minister gave the following statement: "Today, at NATO headquarters in Brussels, the Republic of Macedonia joined the 'Partnership for peace' programme, which, in a way, realizes a part of our long-term strategic orientations outlined in the general course of the Republic from a couple of years ago, and that is, a line of political and economic reforms in order to join and approach the European integrations and collective security systems. Taking into account the nature of the 'Partnership for peace' programme, and the NATO pact at large, it is quite clear that our membership in the 'Partnership for peace' programme is important, foremost, on a military- security plan. However, I wouldn't neglect at any moment, but, to the contrary, I would accent the political significance of this act.

In the last couple of days, a lot of important things happened to us, and due to the course and speed with which they took place, I'm afraid we may not have enough time to evaluate them properly. Those are membership in the OSCE, the Council of Europe, and now, 'Partnership for peace,' while the perspective are also opening up slowly, and I expect negotiations for regulation of the relations with the EU to start very soon. In any event, we can view all of this, as a whole, as the opening of great new perspectives for the Republic of Macedonia, and I don't doubt that we will know and be able to realize and use them in the best way possible."

[02] LJUPCHO POPOVSKI IN PENTAGON

The president of the Commission on internal affairs and defence of the Macedonian Parliament, Ljupcho Popovski, met in the Pentagon with General Robert Osterhaler. The two sides exchanged opinions on the level of cooperation between Macedonia and the U.S.A., as well as the current political and security situation in Macedonia, and broader in the region. The two officials also underlined their satisfaction with the to-date successful cooperation in the field of defence. Macedonia's inclusion in the "Partnership for peace" programme was positively assessed.

[03] GLIGOROV TO RETURN TO HIS DUTIES SHORTLY

The President of the Republic of Macedonia Kiro Gligorov is presently on house treatment from the injuries obtained in the assassination attempt on October 3. As a result of his successful recovery, the President has been carrying out a part of his usual obligations these past couple of weeks. The public will be informed on time about his return to his duties, the President's Cabinet emphasizes in its announcement.

In yesterday's report of the medical team, it is stressed that President Kiro Gligorov has been on house care and rehabilitation for some time now.

His psycho-physical state is satisfactory and within the expected recovery.

The medical team believes that the President of the state will be able to start carrying out his duties very soon.

[04] PREPARATION OF AGREEMENT WITH EU STARTS

The European Commissioner for foreign affairs Hans Van Den Broek received a mandate at the meeting of the European Commission in Strasbourg, to start preparing the agreement on trade and cooperation between the EU and Macedonia, the correspondent of Radio Skopje from Brussels reports.

The draft-text of the agreement will be made public today, and this document is expected to receive the "green light" at the upcoming meeting of the EU foreign ministers, which will be held in Brussels on Monday.

[05] "DATA PRESS" OPINION POLL: THE MACEDONIANS ARE DREAMING

THE "WESTERN DREAM"

The "Data Press" agency carried out a telephone poll of 1,200 people, at the request of the newspaper "Nova Makedonija."

To the question whether Macedonia is closer to Western or Eastern Europe, 49.83% of those polled answered that at the moment, they viewed Macedonia in Europe, while 42.83% link Macedonia's future with the western part of the European continent. 29.67% of those polled still see Macedonia closer to Eastern Europe.

Even 60% of the people encompassed in the poll said, in response to the question as to how they view Macedonia's membership in NATO, that Macedonia should become member of the Western military alliance. Opposite this number are 23.50% citizens who feel that Macedonia should not become a member of the Alliance, while 16.50% are without an opinion.

In an approximately equal percentage (49%) with the citizens who see Macedonia in Western Europe, are the people who feel the country is ready to become a member of the EU.

In assessing the present politics of the Macedonian Government, 28.33% don't view the country as independent, 25.67% view it as pro-American, 13.33% as pro-European, 8.67% as Balkan, while 18.17% were without an opinion in regard to the Government policy.

[06] CREDIT LINE WITH ITALY ANNOUNCED

A delegation of the Italian Government, led by Antonio Bandini, chief of the sector for cooperation with the countries from Central and Eastern Europe in the Foreign Ministry, is paying a visit to the Macedonian ministries, informing them about the decision of the Italian Government to approve special credits to Macedonia. In the talks with Sofia Todorova, Risto Ivanov, Bekjir Zhuta, Jane Miljovski and Ilija Filipche, the guests exchange opinions on the to-date help from Italy, as well as the announced opening of a credit line, under favorable conditions.

According to the chief of sector Bandini, this credit line supports the production projects of small companies from the private sector in Macedonia, with low interest rates and a 20 year pay back period, with a 5 year waiting period.

The sum of the credit, as the Italians emphasized, will help Macedonia's economy even more than the obligations Italy took over with the EU decisions from Edinburgh, the Macedonian Foreign Ministry announced.

[07] AGREEMENT BETWEEN MACEDONIA AND SWEDEN: WITHOUT DOUBLE TAXATION

The Macedonian delegation of the Ministry of Development and the representatives of the Swedish Finance Ministry reached an agreement in Stockholm yesterday, to avoid double taxation between Macedonia and the Kingdom of Sweden.

The agreement is a result of the increased, before all, economic and business cooperation between the two countries, which has been taking an upward course the last fifteen months, with the opening of the Macedonian embassy in Sweden. Following the coordination of the agreement, it is expected to be signed in the next few months, in order to be able to go into effect from January 1, next year.

The Minister of Development of the Kingdom of Sweden Pierre Suri will pay a two-day visit to Macedonia at the beginning of December, together with a large business delegation and Macedonian businessmen from Sweden, Makpress reports.

(end)